Electric vibrator



' April 18, 1939. 1 J, ANDRES 2,154,427

\` ELECTRIC VIBRATOR Filed OCL. 29, 1955 60 CYCLE HAC.

` [zz/QW' lloyd J Zcrea i Patented Apr. 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ELEorRIc Lloyd J. Andres,

to Automatic Rapids, Mich.,

VIBRATOR Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor Instrument Company, Grand a corporation of Michigan Application October29, 1935, Serial No. 47,291

10 Claims.

The invention relates in general to an electric vibrator for use With alternating current and has more particular reference to a single plunger, double solenoid type of vibrator used with alternating current and a' pair of one-way current rectiers to elect vibration.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of an alternating current electric vibrator which is actuated in both directions by the current pulses by means of two coils, each connected in series and in reverse polarity with respect to two rectifier units so that the plunger is pulled in opposite directions by'thetwo solenoids.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter and although a vibrator of this kind has particular application in connection with electric bells, gongs, and signals, because it eliminates the usual make and break contacts, it may also be used as a self-contained electric pump Y for liquid injectors, portable sprayers and many other uses, but is more particularly illustrated and described as used in connection with a vacuum massage applicator.

In the accompanying drawing,r

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a massage applicator showing also its connection to a vacuum pump;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. `3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections for a vibrator of this kind.

35 'Ihis invention is described in connection with a massage applicator of the suction cup type having a vacuum pump Il)y operated by a motor and drawing or sucking air through a exible hose l2 which is connected to a hand applicator 40 device by means of a stem I3 threaded into one end of a metal tube I4 which has a suction cup I5 secured to the other end of the tube by a holder I6.

Mountedkwithin the tube I4 are xed guides 45 I'I and I8 and a movable metal plunger I9 having end rods 20 and 2| extending therefrom through the guides |8` and I1 respectively and the outer rod 2| also extending through a' larger bore 22 in the holder I6 and into the suction cup I5. At

.50 the end of the rod 2| in the cup I5 is a retaining ferrule 23 with a exible contact member 24 of rubber or the like retained therein.

A centering device consisting of a collar 25 is attached to the rod 2| and between this collar v55 and the guide Il and the holder I6 are spring (Cl. 12S-55) sections 26 which tend to hold the plunger I9 in a central position.

In order to provide an air passage between the ends of the tube I4, the guides |`I and I8 and the plunger are provided with one or more longitudinal grooves 2l and the rod 2| fits loosely in the opening 22 of the holder I6 so that any suction applied by the pump I0 will be unobstructed through the tube I4, the cup I5 being applied as desired to the skin or anyother surface.

On the outside of the tube I4 are two magnet `windings 30and 3| spaced apart by a disc 32 and having end discs 33 of iron or other magnetic metal, all encased in a metal tube 34- which is also of iron or other magnetic metal so that when either of the solenoid windings 30 or 3| is energized a magnetic path will be made by way of the tube I4, discs 32 and 33 and outer shell 34. 'Ihese windings 30 and 3| are so located with respect to the core I9 that one winding will pull the core in one direction andthe other winding will pull the core in the other direction from a central position when each one is energized. In mounting and spacing the windings on the outside of the tube I4, bearing blocks 35 and 36 are threaded into the ends of the outer shell 34 with inward extensions pressing against the end discs 33 and binding the intermediate parts together between a shoulder 3l of the stem I3 at one end and the enlarged portion of the holder I6 at the other end. These end blocks are preferably of fiber or other insulating material and the one adjacent the stem I3 is provided with three contact terminals 38 connected to the ends of the coil windings 30 and 3| so that they may A be separately energized.

In order to form a neat appearance and construction the hose I2 may consist of an inner tube 40 of rubber or other suitable airtight material about which are wound three conductors 4|, 42 andy 43, each terminating in a socket 44 which isr connection to a corresponding terminal 38, and the wires being surrounded on the outside by a protective flexible covering of fabric or other suitable material.

In operation the windings 30 and 3| of the solenoid are oppositely connected by the conductors 4|, 42 and 43 with copper oxide or current rectiiiers 46 and 4'I and with a source of alterhating current supply represented as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4. As the plunger I9 is actuated by the Winding 30 which receives current only from one half of the cycle through its rectifier, the plunger will be moved in one direction and when the cycle of current is reversed the other coil will be energized and the plunger drawn in the other direction. 'I'hus the plunger moves through the desired distance for each complete cycle of the alternating current.

The circuit for coil 30 is from the main 48, conductor 42, coil 30, conductor 4I, current rectifier 46 back to the other main 49, while the circuit for coil 3| is from the current main 49 through a conductor 5D, current rectifier 41 and conductor 43, to coil 4| thence through conductor 42 to the other main 48.

In the operation of this device with a suction cup, the cup I5 is placed over the area to `be massaged and vacuum is applied by means of the pump I. This causes .a small area of the flesh to be drawn into the suction cup With the skin surfaces, pores, tissues and muscles expanded. The electric vibrator is then energized which causes the plunger I9 to reciprocate @and the applicator or flexible Contact member 24 to massage the flesh which is drawn into the suc tion cup. The amplitude of this massage action ymay be controlled by va -rheostat (notfshown) and the degree of, suction may be controlled by a suitable valve located in a `convenient position on or near the vacuum pump. The benefits derived from the `flesh areas massaged in this manner are nerve stimulation, increased circulation of blood and elimination of Wrinkles eX- isting in the skin surfaces.

Although this invention is particularly described in connection with a vacuum` massage applicator, the electric vibrator may also be used in a variety of other Ways because of the elimina# tion of make and break circuits and contacts where two coils are used and may Abe used with only one coil in connection with a retracting -spring rather than the centering springs 216 as shown.

I claim: c

1. A magnetic vibrator having coil windings, an armature core movably mounted therein, -mounting rods at the ends of the core, fixed guides through which the rods extend, and resilient centering means in connection with one of the rods which tends toreturn the core to an intermediate position, the core having pro# jecting means forming a Contact massage applicator, and a massage cup in which the applicator is movable.

cator having a suction cup and a suction tube, of a magnet Winding surrounding the tube and an armature core movable in the tube with a stem projecting from the core into the suction cup.

4l In a hand massage applicator comprising a suction cup and a supporting suction tube, a pair of magnet windings surrounding the tube, an armature kcore in the tube energized alter-'- nately in opposite directions by the windings, and a stem extending from the core through the tube into the suction cup.

5. In an electric massage device, a hand applicater comprising a suction cup and a hollow tube extending therefrom, an electric vibrator comprising coils mounted on the tube, an armature vcore :movable `in the tube, and a stem extending from the core into the cup, suction means applied -to the rend :of the tube opposite the cup and comprising a flexible hose having electric conducting wires fabricated about the outside of the hose land connected at the ends of the hand applicator to the ends of the coils for supplying current thereto.

6. In an electric massage applicator according to claim 5, guides mounted in the tube at the ends of the core and the core and the guides being provided with peripheral grooves to allow free passage of air therethrough. f

7. In an electric massage handV applicator, a suction cup and a suction tube secured thereto, a pair of coil windings mounted upon the tube, metal washers intermediate and at the ends of the coil windings, and a metal sleeve covering the coils and engaging the washers, Vthe inner tube, the outer sleeve vand .the washers being of magnetic material, a magnetic core mounted in the tube and actuated in opposite directions by energizing the windings alternately, and a stem extending from the core into the suction cup to engage iiesh drawn into the cup.

8. A vacuum cup, la vacuum chamber connected vthereto with `pump to induce the vacuum, a relief valve for-controlling the extent of the vacuum, a vibrating applicator centrally disposed Within the cup, -a plunger vfor supporting the same for axial reciprocation and vibration, a solenoid, and adjusting means for the solenoid to vary the vibration. n

9. A vacuum cup, a vacuum chamber connected thereto, a vibrating applicatorY centrally l5() disposed Within the cup, a plunger for supporting the same for axial reciprocation and vibration, a solenoid, and adjusting means for the solenoid to vary the vibration.

l0. A'vacuum cup, a vacuum chamber connected thereto, a vibrating applicator centrally disposed within the cup, a plunger for supporting the same for axial reciprocation and vibration, and means to vibrate said applicator.

LLOYD J. ANDRES. 

